The spectre of modern war, often characterised by cutting-edge technology and next-generation weaponry, has in the case of Ukraine, taken on a rather vintage feel. The T-72 tank, a mainstay of the Soviet era, has emerged as one of the defining symbols of resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.
The conflict in Ukraine has dragged on, entering what can only be described as a brutal and attritious phase. Frontlines have been static, but this war should be seen as a harbinger of future conflicts – brutal, grinding, and defined by surprising returns to past arsenals. The high-tech dreams of military planners, this war has seen a reliance on tried-and-tested systems from decades past.
The T-72 tank is, contrary to expectations, taking a leading role on this stage. After the initial stages of the conflict saw significant losses of more modern armoured vehicles, Russian forces shifted to deploying these vintage tanks en masse. The T-72, which many may have consigned to the museum of Cold War relics, has proven itself a surprisingly tough opponent on the battlefield. As one report stated, “Despite a heroic effort on the part of Kremlin planners to expand production of more modern tank models, steep losses in Ukraine continue to drag the Russians into the past.”
Analysts suggest that the T-72’s resurgence is not a mark of failure but a strategic pivot. In a war of numbers and attrition, Russia’s significant reserves of these older tanks have been a boon. The Western world, comparatively, lacks this depth of ‘back-up’ armor – a concerning realization should a large-scale conflict arise.
The global arms transfer ecosystem has seen African nations like Morocco transferring their Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Ukraine, with Western nations orchestrating and financing these shipments. The US and the Netherlands have committed approximately 90 million euros for the supply of Moroccan T-72 tanks to Ukraine.
The T-72s provided to Ukraine are familiar to Ukrainian forces and can be easily modernised in Eastern European countries. The involvement of countries like Morocco, typically neutral, emphasizes the geopolitical significance of these tank transfers and the intricate web of diplomacy and strategy they entail.
In a surprising turn of innovation, we have witnessed the rise of “turtle tanks” – T-72s adapted with improvised armor to counter the menace of drones, the contemporary weapon shaping a significant part of this conflict.Initial skepticism and ridicule, these adaptations have shown that the T-72 can still hold its own against some aspects of modern warfare.
Relevant articles:
– T-72: The Old Tank That Saved Russia in the Ukraine War , National Intererst, 04/28/2024
– Arming Ukraine: How Russia Forces US and EU to Foot the African Kingdom’s Bill, besacenter.org, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 18:51:41 GMT
– The Russian Turtle Tank Is The Weirdest Armored Vehicle Of The Ukraine War. The Craziest Thing Is, It Might Actually Work., Forbes, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:04:29 GMT
– Military Tank Manual, 2017 Zero-Day Anchor Latest Ukraine Cyberattack, Dark Reading, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:59:15 GMT
– America’s Abrams Tanks Are Failing the Ukraine Test, Newsweek, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:08:10 GMT